Plasma Physics: Revolution in Power

The possibility of generating useful
amounts of electricity by blowing hot gas between the poles of a magnet
has long intrigued adventurous physicists. Many have tried to turn the
trick, but until Dr. Arthur Kantrowitz, chief of Avco Corp.'s Everett,
Mass.. laboratory, reported impressive progress last week, large-scale
magnetohydrodynamic power seemed as improbable as its nonstop name.

Nothing Simpler. Avco's Mark II generator has no moving parts; yet it
generates 1,350 kilowatts of electric power. Dr. Kantrowitz likes
to say that his creation is just like an ordinary
rotary generator, but simpler....